Beverage tank



m om mm cw RA Am fwn R 2 Sheets-Sheet i Filed NOV. 20. 1962 INV ENTOR. P14001/ nyc/real@ April 6, 1965 R. l.. ARcHBoLD 3,175,880

BEVERAGE TANK Filed Nov. 2o, 1962 2 sheetssheet 2 United States Patent Oce 3,76,830 BEVERAGE TANK Ralph L. Archbold, Euclid, Ohio, assigner to White Consolidated industries, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 238,972 8 Ciaims. (Cl. 222-158) This invention relates to containers and more particularly to a container adapted for storing and transportation of beverage syrup and maintaining the container contents under pressure.

Current designs of soft drink vending machines and soda fountain equipment include the use of a beverage syrup container of about five gallons capacity which is suited for quick connection and disconnection at the vending machine or point of use and for convenient transportation to a central distribution plant. The container is washed, sterilized and relled with beverage syrup at the distribution plant and thereafter returned to the vending machine or point of use.

It is desirable that such containers be constructed so as to be quickly and easily disassembled for cleaning and where such disassembling and reassembling operations rnay be performed so as to provide for safety in use when subjected to pressurization. Such container should be inert with respect to chemical reaction with the syrup and cleaning detergents. Stainless steel is often used to form such containers.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a beverage syrup container or tank which will provide for convenient assembly and disassembly for cleaning and filling and wherein the container is made of resin-bonded liber glass so as to be resistant to corrosion or chemical reactions and wherein a tank is provided having desirable insulating characteristics and the tank structural parts are utilized in providing a pressure seal contributing to safety in use.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a beverage tank or container according to the preceding object wherein the container is characterized by a cylindrical side Wall construction and where the top and bottom sections of the container include peripheral cylindrical portions which are bonded within the cylindrical construction and wherein portions of the side Walls extend beyond the top section of the container to provide anchorage for an abutment extending transversely of the container.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a tank according to the preceding objects wherein said transverse abutment includes a lid holding latch and is constructed and arranged to be quickly and easily removed from the container.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a beverage tank having cylindrical side walls with integral ear portions thereof extending above a tank top section having a central opening and wherein the ears are provided With opposed apertures adapted to receive oppositely extending trunnions carried by a lid abutment unit and wherein the lid abutment unit provides a latch which may be rocked or turned to move a lid member toward the opening in the tank top section and wherein uid pressure within the container is effective to cause a deflection in the tank top section and thus assist in maintaining a pressure seal with the lid.

Other objects and advantages relating to safety and eiiiciency in operation, economy in manufacture and to ruggedness and long useful life in service will appear from the following description and the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage tank made according to my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan View of the beverage tank;

3,l76,88il Patented Apt'. 6, 1965 FIG. 3 is an elevation of the upper portion of the beverage tank with parts in section illustrating disassembly of the lid holding mechanism made according to my invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the lid holding mechanism taken along the plane indicated at 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section along 5 5 of FIG. 2 showing manual manipulation of the lid holding mechanism; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the beverage tank.

The beverage tank of the present invention includes a cylindrical side wall unit indicated in its entirety as at 6. The cylindrical side wall section 6 is made of cured resin-bonded liber glass. The cylindrical unit 6 is preferably made according to the method and apparatus disclosed in the patent to Wiltshire, No. 3,012,922 Wherein a tubular mandrel is rotated while chopped glass bers and resin are being deposited within the rotating mandrel and the cylindrical section thus centrifugally formed is then cured within the mandrel.

The beverage tank of my invention includes a bottom section 7 and a top section 8, which sections are preferably made of resin-bonded fiber glass within matched metal molds. As will be understood by those skilled in the art of ber glass forming, a metal mold having a cavity conforming to the contour of the exterior of the bottom section is fitted with a pre-form 0r loose mat of glass iibers and provided with a quantity of resin. Thereafter a matching metal male mold section having an exterior conforming to the interior shape of the end section 7 is pressed within the forming cavity and the fiber glass and resin cured under heat and pressure within such cavity. The top section S is similarly formed in matched metal molds. The cured sections 7 and 8 include peripheral cylindrical portions 7a and Sa which may be telescoped within the cylindrical side Wall section 6. In the case of the top section 8, the center portion is punched out or otherwise removed so as to provide a central opening as at 9 which is adapted to receive a lid 1i.

The lower end of the cylindrical section 6 is undercut from the open end thereof to provide a shoulder as at 12. The undercut cylindrical portion as at 13 is accurately machined so as to provide for a snug pressed lit with the peripheral cylindrical portion 7a of the bottom section 7. The proportions are such that the bottom section 7 is telescoped within the cylindrical section 6 so that the tank is supported on a surface by the lower edge of the section 6.

The end cap or bottom section 7 is provided with an annular groove 7b in the section 7a. The interior Wall of the section 6 is preferably grooved or corrugated in the area opposite the annular groove 7b. The annular opening as formed between the cylindrical section 6 in the arca indicated at 7b is then lled with resin binder material to form a secure bond between the cylindrical portion of the container and the end section 7. In this connection the joint is formed and the sections bonded to each other as disclosed in my co-pending application of Balcom and Archbold for Fiber Glass Tank, filed November 5, 8, Serial No. 772,626 now Patent No. 3,095,- 993, issued July 2, 1963.

The top section 8 of the beverage tank is secured to the cylindrical section 6 as described above and as described in said co-pending application, Serial No. 772,026.

The cylindrical section 6 of the beverage tank is formed to have an overall length to include the cars 15 and 15. The Wall sections between the ears 15 and 16S are cut away or punched out from the overall length ofthe tube and the parts thus cut out are then utilized to provide supplementary ear sections 17 and i8. The supplementary ear portions 17 and i3 are resin-bonded to the integrally Vnion portions 4l) and 4l.

enr/esso formed ears l5 and i6 as best shown in FIG. 6 wherein surplus resin, as indicated at 19 and 20, forms a smooth llet at the juncturebetween the ears and the top section 8.

An opening is provided in the oppositely disposed ear sections and a `metal grommet as at Zi and 22 is crimped into place. The metal grommets 2l and 22 along with the supplemental ear sections 17 and 18 eticiently transmit loads from the transverse abutment and handle member 25 to the main cylindrical body 6 of theA beverage tank. Y Y

. The beverage tank is provided with an carried in an aperture formed in the sloping wall of the top section 8. The litting 26 includes a body 27 whichV overhangs the litting aperture and carries a dip tube Z8. The body 27 ofthe outlet, litting is threaded at theeX- terior thereof and is clamped into place by nut 2%. The fitting 26 and the dip tube 2S are utilized to discharge outlet iitting 25 'caused by the introduction of CO2 gas through the gas inlet .ily at sixty pounds per square inch will dellect or bend the cap section S'outwardly against the lid il.

beverage syrup from the beverage tank and it will be f understood that the nipple portion 36 of the outlet fitting is adapted to be connected to the hose or tube for conducting the syrup under pressure to its place of use.

It will also be understood that the outlet tting 2:6 may be connected to a line valve to close the syrup outlet when the beverage supply is under pressure during trans- Y portation.

Y A gas inlet tting 3l is also mounted in the section 8. The gas inlet litting 31 may be constructed substantially as the litting 26 and preferably includes a check valve'(not shown) to maintain iluid pressure in the beverage container after charging the tank with gas. It will be understood that when in use in a vending machine the fitting Sil' may be connected to a supply of CO2 gasto maintain a pressure of about sixty pounds per square inch on the liquid in the tank. Y

It will be noted in connection with the litting 26 and the dip tube 28 carried thereby that the slope of the Wall in the top section 8 tilts the dip tube 2S in toward the center of the tank Yso that the lower endof the dip tube as at 28a is adjacent the lowermost portion of the beverage tank. This provides that substantially all of the syrup in the tank may be withdrawn through the dip tube'ZS.

j In forming the cylindrical section 6 which makes up the main body portion of the beverage tank resins and glassV are utilized such that the tank is substantially translucent. Thus the beverage tank may have indicia at the exterior thereof as indicated by numerals l to 4 which will give a Since the lid 1l .is backed'up or restrained against movement by the abutment unit 25, the deflection of the section S increases the sealing pressure at the gasket lila.

The member 25 includes spaced integrally formed arcuate ears 49 and Sti. VThe ears 49 and 5t? extend downwardly beneath the horizontal area occupied by the lid lll. As shown in FIG. 6, the depending ear 49 is located alongside the ange lib of the lid and the ear 5% is located alongside the opposite side of the liange lib. As thus arranged with the cam surface 45 in its lowermost abutting.

position against the lid lll and the portion i6 also against the lid li, as shown in F IG. 4, the member 25 is restrained against horizontal sliding movement sutlicient to free either of the trunnion portions from the grommets 2l and 22. When, however, the handle member 47 is grasped Vas illustrated in FIG.' 5 and turned upwardly to the phantom line position of FIG. 5, the ears 49 and 5t? are swung into a horizontal area above the lid lll. This released position is illustrated in FIG. 3. With the manual handle 47 in its raised position, the assembly Z5 The positioning of the `llattened surfaces provides sufli-V cient clearance of one trunnion inrits grommet so that the assembly 25 maybe tilted upwardly away from the lid Y llas illustrated in FIG. 3.

visual indication to the user of the quantity of syrup with- Y in the beverage tank. l

The locking or clamping mechanism for holding the lid V11 securely in place and provide a carrying handle is indicated in its entirety as at 25. The unit 2,5 is preferably formed of aluminum and has oppositely extending trun- The trunnion portions are It is among the advantages of the interlocking arrangement of lid 11 and the unit 25 that swinging the handle 47 from'the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5, releases the pressure on thelid 11 and yet retains the lidl Il in its location underneath the rugged assembly 25. Thus the user as a necessary tirst step towards disassembly of the lid and container for Washing and sterilization must release the gas pressure stored in the container and, at the same time, trap or hold the lid in a position where it cannot fly violently upward and injure the person using the container. It will be observed that it is necessary 'toslide the unit 25 laterally as illus- ,Y trated in FIG. 3 before the lid may be removed entirely from theucontainer.

vprevent lateral sliding movement with the assembly in contoured in cross section asrindicated in FIG..5 so as to provide opposite flat sides 41a and'dlb joined to each ber 25 in the position shown in FIGS. l, 2, 4 and 6, the rounded portions of the trunnions il and il bear against the top areas of their grommets 2l and 22, respectively. The lower mid-portion of the member 25 isV provided with a cam face indicated at 45 in FIG. 4 and said cam surface, along with an abutment surface 46 carried at the under '55 other by rounded portions dic and 4Std. With the memv side of operating lever 47, provides a stable abutment i Y pressingagainst the upper side of the lidA 11. K

Preferably the lid 1l is provided with a gasket 11a and a flange 11b surrounding the outlet or opening 9 formed in section 8. The positioning of the member 2S as illusl Since the 'depending ears ,4Q-50 its locked position, thereV is no danger of inadvertently releasing the fluid pressure or removing the carrying handle formed by the opening 55 in the assembly 25.

The position of theparts as illustrated in FIGS. 1 2

and 6 is an over center position of the unit 25 and theY container may be conveniently carried by the handle portion H ofV the assembly 25.

The beverage tank assembly made according to my invention thus consists basically of three separately removable parts, namely, the body or" the container having side walls and top and bottom sections, the lid 11 for the top opening and the latch-abutment unit 25. 'All of such parts are signicantly free of threads, crevices,'or the like,

- which would tend to collect syrup and be dilicult to clean trated in FIG. 4 applies a light sealing pressure to the gasket 11a interposed between the lid and the sections. Preferably the opening 9 in the top section 8 is 'proportioned with respect to the area surrounding the opening 9 so thatthe totalareaaround the openingV 9 greatly exceeds.

the area of the opening. For example'assuming that the area of the opening 9 is about eleven square inches for ay Y Y given tank, the annular area of the cap` section t around assembly. y

or maintain in a sanitary condition. The arrangement permits large `dimensional manufacturing tolerances. The lid and container body are joined to Veach other through the medium of Va liat gasket which is easy to cleanV and which will accommodate Wide dimensionalY variations. VNo tools are required for assembly Yor dis- The completed container maybe provided with a reair/asso 5 silient band 56 at the bottom thereof and a resilient bumper band 57 adjacent the top of the tank.

Although I have described and shown one form of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that numerous variations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as dened in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container for liquid comprising a cylindrical main section having side walls of cured resin-bonded iiber glass, a rounded bottom section of cured resinbonded fiber glass, said bottom section having a cylindrical peripheral portion telescopically arranged within the lower end of said cylindrical main section, a top section of cured resin-bonded fiber glass having a central opening, a sloping annular wall around said central opening and cylindrical peripheral portions telescopically arranged within the upper end of said main section, said main section having oppositely disposed integrally formed ears projecting upwardly above said top section, each of said ears having an aperture, a transverse abutment member having trunnions at each end thereof, the overall length of said transverse abutment member exceeding she distance between said ears, said trunnions being proportioned to iit within said ear apertures, a lid for said central opening in said top section, means to provide sealing engagement between said lid and said central opening, said abutment member having a cam face at the underside thereof adjacent said lid, said abutment member having a manually operable lever extending laterally from said cam for rocking said abutment member about its trunnion mounting in said ear apertures from a iirst position with said cam face biasing said lid into sealing engagement with said central opening to a second position with the cam face moved away from said lid, said abut ment member having spaced integrally formed lugs thereon to embrace opposite sides of the lid and thereby prevent axial movement of the abutment member in its trunnion mounting the abutment member in said lirst position.

2. A container for holding liquid under pressure comprising a cylindrical main section providing side wallsof cured resin-bonded iiber glass, a rounded bottom section of cured resin-bonded iiber glass having a cylindrical peripheral portion telescopically arranged within the lower end of said cylindrical main section, the lower edges of said main section extending below said rounded bottom, a top section of cured resin-bonded fiber glass having a central opening, said top section having an annular wall around said central opening and integrally formed cylindrical portions at the periphery of the annular kwall telescopically arranged within the upper end of said main section, said telescoped cylindrical portions of said top,

bottom and main sections being bonded to each other,` said main section having diametrically spaced integrally formed ears projecting upwardly above said top section, said ears having diametrically aligned apertures, a transverse abutment member having trunnions at each end thereof mounted in said ear apertures, the overall length of said transverse abutment member including the trunnions exceeding the distance between said ear apertures, said trunnions being proportioned to iit within said ear apertures for rocking' and axial sliding movement, a lid for said central opening in said top section, means to provide sealing engagement between said lid and said central opening `said abutment member having a cam face centrally located at the underside thereof adjacent said lid, said abutment member having a manually operable rock lever extending laterally from said cam face for rocking said abutment member about its trunnion mounting in said ear apertures from a locked position with said camface biasing said lid into sealing engagement with said central opening and to a released position with the cam face moved away from said lid, and means to prevent sliding movement of the abutment member in said ear apertures in said locked position.

3. A beverage dispersing container comprising a cylindrical main section having side walls of cured resin-bonded liber glass, a rounded bottom section of cured resin-bonded iiber glass, said bottom section having a cylindrical peripheral portion telescopically arranged within the lower end of said cylindrical main section, a top section of cured resin-bonded fiber glass having a central opening, a sloping annular wall around said central opening and cylindrical peripheral portions telescopically arranged within the upper end of said main section, a discharge opening in said sloping wall, said main section having oppositely disposed integrally formed ears projecting upwardly above said top section, each of said ears being formed by a continuation of the wall of said main section and having an aperture, a transverse abutment member having trunnions at each end thereof, the overall length of said transverse abutment member exceeding the distance between said ear apertures, said trunnions being mounted within said ear apertures for rocking and sliding movement, a lid for said central opening in said top section, means to provide sealing engagement between said lid and said central opening, a dip tube secured to said top section at said discharge opening within the container, said dip tube terminating adjacent the center of said rounded bottom section, said abutment member having a cam formed at the underside thereof adjacent said lid, said abutment member having a manually operable lever extending laterally from said cam for rocking said abutment member about its trunnion mounting in said ear apertures from a locked position with said cam biasing said lid into sealing engagement with said central opening and to a released position with the cam face moved away from said lid, said abutment member having lugs thereon to engage the lid and thereby prevent axial sliding movement of the abutment member in said locked position.

4. A beverage tank comprising an upright elongated cylindrical main section having side walls and top and bottom sections of cured resin-bonded liber glass, said top section having a central opening and an annular portion around said central opening, a lid for said central opening, said annular portion having a projected area more than three times the area of the central opening, said tank having oppositely arranged ears projecting upwardly above said top section, each of said ears having a trunnion receiving aperture, a transverse abutment member having trunnions at each end thereof, said transverse abutment member having an overall length exceeding the distance between the ear apertures, said transverse abutment member having a cam face at the underside thereof adjacent the said lid, a sealing gasket carried by the lid and arranged to be interposed between theA edge of the central opening in the top section and the underside of the lid, said abutment member having a manually operable lever forturning the abutment member in its trunnion mounting in said ears, means including said trunnions and said cam face effective to establish a iixed position of said lid relative to the tank as the abutment member is turned through about from a released position to a. sealed position, and means to introduce iuid pressure Within the beverage tank to deflect the annular portion around the opening upwardly to supplement the sealing pressure at said gasket when the abutment member is in its said locked position. Y

5. A beverage tank having cylindrical side walls and top and bottom sections formed of cured resin-bonded ber glass, the side walls of said tank having oppositely disposed upwardly projecting ears proportioned to eX- tend above the top section of Ithe tank, supplemental sections of cured resin-bonded fiber glass having the same arcuate shape as said ears mounted within said oppositely disposed ears and bonded thereto, said ears and supplemental sections being bonded to each other and having aligned trunnion apertures, said ears and supplemental sections havingy a metal trunnion Ygrommet mounted in the apertures, said top section of the beverage tank having t a central opening, a lid for said opening, means to provide jtrunnions at each endthereof proportioned to tit within said grommets, said trunnion members each having an Y,

axial extent whereby the abutment member may be slid laterally of the tank Withinthe grommets so as to freeV one trunnion from its grommet and permit upward swinging movement of the abutment member, said abutment member having an integrally formed lid cam surface at its underside, said abutment Vmember having a laterally extending operating handle whereby the abutment member maybe rocked in its trunnion mounting from a sealed positionexerting pressure on said lid and to a released position separating the cam surface from said lid, said abutment member having spaced dependent lugs adapted to embrace opposite peripheral portions of said lid when the trunnion member is in its sealed position and thereby preventing lateral sliding movement of the abutment member in its sealed position. Y Y

6. A beverage dispensing tank having side walls and top and bottom sections formed of translucent Vcured resintrasse dispensing passage mounted in said annular area of the top section between said ears, a dip tube secured to said top section in communication with said dispensing passage, said dip tube extending adjacent to bottom section of said tank, clamping means for said lid comprising an elongated abutment member, said abutment member having trunnions at each end thereof proportioned to fit within said oppositely disposed grommets, said trunnions having a cross` section to provide areas of different radii,

' said trunnion members each having an am'al extent wherebonded fiberglass, the side walls of said tank having vertically spaced indicia showingliquid measure,V said side walls having oppositely disposed upwardly projectingintegrally formed ears proportioned to extend above the top section of the tank, supplemental ear sections of cured resin-bonded liber glass mounted within said oppositely disposed integrally formed ears and bonded thereto, each by the abutment member may be slid laterally of the tank within the grommets so as to free one trunnion from its grommet and permit upward swingingmovement thereof about the other trunnion within its grommet, said abut-V mentV member having a lid engaging surface at its underside, said abutment member having a laterally extending operating handle whereby the abutment member may be rocked in its vtrunnion mounting from a sealed position exerting pressure on said Ylid to a released position releasing the lid engaging surface with respect to said lid.

8. Atbeverage dispensing tank comprising an upright elongated cylindrical translucent main section having side walls and topV and bottom sections of cured resin-bonded ber glass, quantity indicia on said side walls, said top section having a central opening and a sloping annular portion around said central opening, a lid for said opening, said annular portion having an area more than three i times thevarea ofthe central opening, a gas inlet means of said integrally formed and supplemental ears having aligned apertures, eachV of said ears having a tubular metal grommet mounted in the apertures, said top section of the beverage tank having a central opening, a lid for said opening, means to provide sealing engagement between said lid and said central opening, clamping means for I said lid comprising an elongated metal abutment member,

Vsaid abutment member ,having trunnions at each end thereof proportioned to t within an ear grommetLsaid trunf nion members having an axial extent greater than the Y axial extent of the grommet whereby the abutment member may be slid laterally of thetank andaxially on the trunnions within the grommets so as to free one trunnion from its grommet and permit upward bodily swinging movement of the abutment member about the other grommet, said abutment member having an integrally formed lid engaging surface at its underside,'said abutment member having a laterally extending operating handle whereby the abutment member may be'rocked inV its trunnion mounting from a sealed position exerting pressure on said lid vto a released position releasing the lid Vengaging surface with respectto said lid, saidabutrnent member having means to engage portions of said lidwhen the trunnion member is in its sealed position and thereby preventing lateral sliding movement of the abutment mem-` ber in its sealed position.

7. A beverage dispensing tank having side Walls and topn and bottom` `sections `formed of translucent cured resin-bonded fiber glass, theside walls of-said tank having uid measure indicia thereon, said tank, having oppositely disposed upwardly projecting earsV extending above the4 topisection of the tank, reinforcing ear sections of Vcured resin-bonded liber'glass secured to said upwardly project-. V

ing ears, said ears having aligned apertures, a metal grommet mounted in the apertures, said top Vsection of thebeveragetank having va central opening and an annular i between the ear apertures, said transverse abutment member having a lid engaging surface at the underside thereof adjacent the saidl lid, a sealing gasket carried by the lid and arranged to be interposed between the edge'of the opening in the top section and the underside of the lid, said abutment member having a manually operable means for movingY the abutment member in its trunnion mounting in said ears and thereby move the lid engaging surfaceto a sealed position resisting deflection of the top section resulting from` the introduction of said gas to the container.

iPieferencesCited by the Examiner UNlTED STATES PATENTS 588,063 8/97' Hewens 292-217 714,376r 11,/02 Howell 220-46 854,317 5/07 -Twee 222-394 983,058 1/11 Jacksonl 222-158 2,178,868 11/39 Bullock 292-241 X 2,522,820 9/50V Haberkorn 292-257 X 2,665,161 1/54 VStehling 292-2565 2/59 Wilkerson 222-158 X Y' nvERETr w. KIRBY, Primm Examiner.

Lotus LDEMBO, Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER FOR LIQUID COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL MAIN SECTION HAVING SIDE WALLS OF CURED RESIN-BONDED FIBER GLASS, A ROUNDED BOTTOM SECTION OF CURED RESINBONDED FIBER GLASS, SAID BOTTOM SECTION HAVING A CYLINDRICAL PERIPHERAL PORTION TELESCOPICALLY ARRANGED WITHIN THE LOWER END OF SAID CYLINDRICAL MAIN SECTION, A TOP SECTION OF CURED RESIN-BONDED FIBER GLASS HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING, A SLOPING ANNULAR WALL AROUND SAID CENTRAL OPENING AND CYLINDRICAL PERIPHERAL PORTIONS TELESCOPICALLY ARRANGED WITHIN THE UPPER END OF SAID MAIN SECTION, SAID MAIN SECTION HAVING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED INTEGRALLY FORMED EAR PROJECTING UPWARDLY ABOVE SAID TOP SECTION, EACH OF SAID EARS HAVING AN APERTURE, A TRANSVERSE ABUTMENT MEMBER HAVING TRUNNIONS AT EACH END THEREOF, THE OVERALL LENGTH OF SAID TRANSVERSE ABUTMENT MEMBER EXCEEDING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID EARS, SAID TRUNNIONS BEING PROPORTIONED TO FIT WITHIN SAID EAR APERTURES, A LID FOR SAID CENTRAL OPENING IN SAID TOP SECTION, MEANS TO PROVIDE SEAL- 